Comments on: Cheerleading – Is it a sport?

By: Rexanne Mancini

Rexanne Mancini — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 00:50:43 +0000

Cheer can most definitely be categorized as a “sport.”

These girls put in as many hours of practice as the football, basketball and baseball teams, they train extensively, have specific cheer camps to attend each year, are required to wear uniforms and they work very hard.

My daughter was a cheerleader in a very athletically competitive high school. They went to National finals each year and they worked their little butts off to be the “best.” Their presence and enthusiasm at all games (football, basketball) was a huge contribution to the morale and excitement for both the audience and the players.

Not only are they adding to their school spirit and hard-working, they have to be physically fit enough to maintain the rigorous training schedules, to be able to perform the sometimes dangerous and physically challenging routines and they are role models. These girls are expected to live up to high ethical and moral standards as they are representing their schools as much as the guys of the fields and courts.

Cheer is a great place for a girl to learn team work and is just as much a “team” sport as any other. I think they deserve a lot more respect than they get.

By: Pat

Pat — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 11:18:11 +0000

It is always interesting to hear the perception of “women”
when they talk about cheerleading and sports. I to am from
Texas(Arlington) I have two girls who both were in cheerleading both in school and competive. The older one chose to give up the competive squad and focus on sports where she became an 1st team all-district in 3 sports and her senior year played on the boys baseball team. In addition she played select soccer and AAU basketball. The younger one started cheerleading when she was 9 and was on a squad who won consistently won 3 major national competions. And two world titles. I have to say that for the most part high school cheerleaders only want to be seen and be “popular”. School cheerleading is considered a sport in AISD and falls under the rules of the athletic dept. Competive cheerleading is a whole different ballgame.The demands are so much greater in all aspects. Our cheer club squads all the same practice outfits and they wore them on the same day. Here the girls worked hard when they were at practice and all got along. It was the parents (both moms and dads) who created the dramma, which the head coaches did not tolerate and would close practices to spectators. So when you think of cheerleaders just realize there are two different styles. And yes competitive cheerleading is expensive but know more than select soccer, AAU basketball, or club baseball. And remember it is not what you get out of the activity but what the child gets. The benefits far outway the costs. Besides the organized sports keep them out of trouble, teaches them team concept, work ethic, is good for their health. However, parents, make sure your child is doing the sport because THEY want to. Don’t make the mistake of living your live through your child. Not cool.

ve. I HAVE TWO GIRLS W

By: Squishy

Squishy — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 14:24:52 +0000

Cheerleading is a sport i feel. Im also a cheerleader and it takes hard work to do the stunts and flips cheers do. Would a football player be able to pull these things off i think not

By: CHEERLEADER

CHEERLEADER — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 18:47:17 +0000

I am a cheerleader and after cheering at basketball and football I have noticed the difference. For teams that come to our school with only a student section and no cheerleaders from my experience are not as loud or as into the game and the players do respond to the crowd, players hear the cheers and it reminds them that they have a whole gym or stadium full of support.

By: Majihela

Majihela — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 20:59:47 +0000

cheerleading is one of the most dangerouse “sports” in the world. cheerleaders deserve respect for what they do and all the hard work they put into it. i have been a cheerleader for about 5 yeard now and i love it. Yes, i do agree that some cheerleaders are bitches but not all of us are like that. we practice for weeks and go and compete just like backetball, baseball, hocky, volleyball, you name it and we most liekly have more of it.

By: kimberly

kimberly — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 20:25:04 +0000

I think it would be very cool. I am in to modeling and
cheerleading!Cheerleading is more of mean girl side of
the sport,it would be very ineresting.what is it like
to be a cheerleader? I want to know.Cheerleading is a sport realy.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 17:10:42 +0000

Cheerleading – is it a sport?…

Is cheerleading a sport or are they just glorified fans, mean girls, or none of the above….

By: Mike

Mike — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 15:57:40 +0000

My opinion is that cheerleading in its intended form is not a sport. Instead it is an integral part of the fan support of the actual sport being played. In basketball, they refer to this fan support as the all important 6th man. There are 5 players on the court at any one time, and the metaphorical 6th player is the home court advantage that comes from the crowd support, which sometimes can make a huge difference in the outcome of the game. And good cheerleaders that know the game, and know the right times to get the crowd to yell, and the best ways to get the crowd to yell, help to optimize that 6th man experience and are a valuable part of the game. But having said that, I do believe that cheerleading has moved out of its original intent, and is now more about gymnastics and stunts and dance and a sideline show that takes advantage of a crowd that gathers to watch whatever sport is being played. When the cheerleaders go to their cheerleading competitions, and they compete against a set of predefined rules and criteria, then of course it’s a sport. However, it would be interesting to see if their is a way to combine these two seemingly different objectives. Maybe there could be some type of referee that judges what the cheerleaders do at each of their games to get their crowd involved, and have some type of objective score card for the 6th man effect. My hunch is that many of the cheerleaders would lose interest in this because the fact is that there are a lot of these cheerleaders that are just in it for the attention and the more old fashioned “mean girl” side of the sport, but it would be interesting.

By: Char

Char — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 12:36:24 +0000

Cindy – thanks for stopping in! Cheerleaders do work hard and most of them do or have done other sports.

By: Cindy

Cindy — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 00:48:42 +0000

I think Cheerleading is a sport. I was never the cheerleading type. I played basketball and volleyball and at least half of our cheerleaders also partipated in sports. They worked hard and they actually cheered for both guys and girl teams in my school. We lived in Central Texas. Sports teams/individuals have lots of image problems as well, but that doesn’t keep people from saying they are in a sport.